PUBS
6 cosy pubs for fireside drinks
A good pub can rival even the fanciest of restaurants. And in the Cotswolds, you’re spoilt for choice. When winter settles in, there’s nothing better than hunkering down by an open fire, pint in hand, laughter with friends filling the room. We’ve picked out six of the cosiest Cotswold pubs that deliver exactly that..
BY JODIE STURGE | 29 NOVEMBER 2025
1/6
The Royal Oak, Ramsden
You might think you’ve stepped straight onto the set of The Holiday, and in a way, you wouldn’t be far off. The Royal Oak in Ramsden is so idyllically cosy that it feels almost scripted… which makes perfect sense, given it also happens to be owned by the producer of Love Actually! This 17th-century Cotswold pub sits deep in the heart of Oxfordshire.
With its wooden-beamed ceilings and roaring open fire, it’s the kind of pub that feels like it’s been waiting all year for the colder months. There’s proper real ale, a rather admirable selection of organic and natural wines and a nostalgic scattering of old-fashioned bar games. Everything you need for a gently tipsy evening with friends.
High St, Chipping Norton OX7 3AU
royaloakramsden.com
2/6
The Queen’s Head, Stow-on-the-Wold
The Queen’s Head is the poster child of a traditional local Cotswold pub: one that wraps you up in warmth the moment you step inside. The food is proper pub grub, done well, and its steak and ale pie is not one to miss. While you can cosy up inside for the colder months, it’s particularly popular among locals. So if you’re looking to immerse yourself further into Cotswold life – pint in hand, conversation bubbling – this is where you start.
Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1AB
donnington-brewery.com/pages/the-queens-head-stow-on-the-wold
3/6
The Fleece Inn, Bretforton
On the edge of the Cotswolds, The Fleece Inn is your quintessential English village pub, and a particular favourite amongst real ale and cider lovers. Built in the early 15th century and now cared for by the National Trust, it has low, worn wooden beams, original wonky stone floors and open fires that seem to have been crackling for centuries. It’s the perfect rural retreat: dog-friendly, run with a clear love of tradition and best enjoyed with a pint in hand as you warm your boots.
The Cross, Bretforton, Evesham WR11 7JE
thefleeceinn.co.uk
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4/6
The Mason’s Arms, Clanfield
Just across the quiet village green in Clanfield is The Mason’s Arms – the cheeky, newly-renovated little sibling of the well-loved The Double Red Duke. The building, parts of which date back to around 1610, has been polished up: still a heavily-beamed Cotswold stone pub, but treated to a facelift. Inside, you’re greeted by the soft amber light from three(!) open fires, a laid- back crowd and British pub classics for ultimate comfort. They also boast “Good Guinness and OK Wifi” which, honestly, is all anyone really needs.
Bampton Rd, Clanfield, Bampton OX18 2RG
countrycreatures.com/masons-arms
5/6
The Bell, Sapperton
Previously named “Top Winter Pub in the UK”, The Bell still manages to feel relaxed and genuinely local, despite now being an upmarket country pub. It’s been a much-loved spot in the picture-book village of Sapperton for the better part of three centuries, and continues to welcome anyone looking to escape the cold. Inside, a welcoming log fire anchors the bar, giving the rooms that soft, wintry glow we all crave from a pub. There’s even an actual wine wall in the bar, of which the choice is unexpectedly interesting, clearly chosen with care, and sits nicely alongside more familiar comforts on the menu.
Sapperton, Cirencester GL7 6LE
bellsapperton.co.uk
6/6
The Lygon Arms, Broadway
The Lygon Arms has long been a favourite in Broadway, a landmark hotel that’s stood proud in the village centre for centuries. Yet it’s the bar, with its deep, well-worn leather armchairs and generous open fire, that draws people in during the winter period. The slow heat of the fire on your legs and the softened leather moulding comfortably beneath you is nothing but heavenly. If you absolutely must get up to stretch your legs, you can do so by stepping into another of their just-as-cosy lounges.
High St, Broadway WR12 7DU
lygonarmshotel.co.uk
*No business featured paid to feature on this list. Everything on this list is our own genuine opinion.